Anger over cost of re-naming South Glasgow Hospital

Politicians have criticised Glasgow’s health board for spending £100,000 on re-branding the new south-side hospital with a Royal title.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde spent £51,000 on three plaques to commemorate the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

The Queen’s visit for the hospital’s official opening cost £29,000 with catering costs of £18, 836.

The board also spent over £1,500 for new signs.

The Scottish Greens - who obtained the figures through Freedom of Information laws - described the costs as a “ridiculous waste.”

Ross Greer, Scottish Green MSP candidate for West of Scotland and former Bearsden Academy pupil, said: “Its not hard to think of a few dozen ways to better spend £100,000 of NHS funds.

“Serious questions need to be asked as to how far in advance it was known that the hospital may be renamed and rebranded and whether this ridiculous waste could have been avoided.

“I don’t think anyone could seriously argue that £51,000 on new plaques was an unavoidable and necessary spend.

“Aside from the cost itself it really does beggar belief that such an amazing new facility could not have been named after one of the many notable figures Scotland has contributed to the field of medicine.”

A spokesperson for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: “The vast majority of our staff and patients were delighted that The Queen officially opened our new healthcare facilities which will benefit not only the people of Glasgow but the people of Scotland.

“We were also very pleased to be given a new Royal title for this magnificent new building.

“It should be pointed out that whether the hospitals was given a Royal name or not there would still have been an official opening ceremony, we would still have created commemorative plaques and would have certainly marked the opening of such fine buildings with a special lunch for staff and patients. These aspects all form part of the costs that we have published on our website.”